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§ THE GLASS FACTORY. §
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¨:=;§&##@# SEVERAL CENTURIES AFTER IT HAD LAST #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ BELONGED TO US, WE WENT ON AN OUTING TO @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# THE GLASS FACTORY THAT BORE OUR FAMILY #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ NAME. IT HAD CHANGED OWNERS MANY TIMES @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# SINCE OUR ANCESTORS DEATH, AND THEN #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ STOOD ABANDONED FOR A LONG WHILE. @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# FINALLY, THE NATURAL END STATION FOR #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ THE BUILDINGS THAT SURVIVE: A MUSEUM, @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# AND A GIFT SHOP. #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# THERE'S A LONG TIME SINCE MY FAMILY #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ MADE ANYTHING. BY MANY, WE WOULD BE @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# CONSIDERED POOR. #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# THERE ARE TWO MAIN FACTORY BUILDINGS, #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ DOMED THINGS OF SEVERAL FLOORS, MADE IN @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# YELLOW BRICK. LARGE BUT NARROW WINDOWS, #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ REMINESCENT OF SOME CATHEDRAL. @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# CUSTOM-MADE GLASS, OF COURSE, LARGE AND #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ LEADED, AND ASHEN. A BIT TOO DARK TO BE @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# PRACTICAL. ON THE EASTERN BUILDING, #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ SOME ARE SHATTERED. @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ THE OTHER ONE IS PUBLICLY OPEN. THERE'S @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# A MUSEUM, WITH WAX FIGURES OF MY GREAT #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ GREAT GREAT GRANDFATHER, OR SOMETHING. @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# VARIOUS TOOLS (OR REPLICAS) LAID OUT ON #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ TABLES, WITH EXPLAINING TEXTS. A LOT OF @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# GLASS OF VARYING THICKNESS. #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# §§ #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ §§ §§ @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# ======= § § ======= #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ §§ §§ @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# §§ #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# I QUICKLY SNEAK OUT, AND CLIMB INTO THE #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ OTHER BUILDING. THE CONTRAST IS @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# OVERWHELMING. IT MUST HAVE STOOD #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ DERELICT FOR A LONG TIME, WINDOWS @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# BROKEN, METALLIC TRASH AND POOLS OF #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ DARK GLASS ALL OVER THE FLOOR. NO @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# ELECTRIC LIGHTS, BUT I CAN SEE BY THE #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ LIGHT THAT SHINES IN WHEREVER THE DARK @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# WINDOWS ARE MISSING A PANE. #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# HOWEVER, THE GREATEST DIFFERENCE IS THE #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ HIGHER FLOORS: THIS BUILDING HAS NONE. @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# IT IS ONE MASSIVE HALL, STRETCHING AWAY #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ INFINITELY ABOVE ME. SOMEWHERE UP THERE @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# IS SOME GREAT IRON LATTICEWORK, FROM #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ WHERE CHAINS ARE SUSPENDED, AND PARTS @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# OF MACHINERY HAS BEEN FALLING DOWN. #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# THERE IS, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GREAT #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ HALL, A THIN SPIRAL STAIRCASE THAT @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# LEADS UP THERE. I SNEAK OVER THERE, AND #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ TAKE A FEW RELUCTANT STEPS. AFTER JUST @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# A REVOLUTION, I NOTICE THAT FOR EACH #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ STEP THE BUILDING STARTS TO GLOW, THE @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# BRICKS TURNING A DARK RED, AND THEN #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ ORANGE, ALL THE PILED UP DEBREE BEING @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# LIT FROM BEHIND. #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# I STOP READY TO RUN DOWN AND OUT, BUT #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ THERE'S SOMEONE ELSE ON THE STAIRCASE @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# WITH ME NOW, PRESSED CLOSE. HE'S #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ LOOKING LIKE ME, SHORT HAIR AND THIN @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# ARMS, BUT WITH EARS FROM SOME ANIMAL, #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ AND MORE DISTURBINGLY, COMPLETELY MADE @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# OF DARK LIQUID GLASS. #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# §§ #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ §§ §§ @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# ======= § § ======= #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ §§ §§ @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# §§ #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# MY FEAR HOLDS ME IN PLACE WHILE HE #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ STARTS OPERATING LEVERS AND DIALS SET @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# IN THE CENTER OF THE STAIRCASE. SLOWLY, #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ IT STARTS SPINNING, CIRCLING UPWARDS. @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# IT'S AN ELEVATOR! I START TO RUN #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ DOWNWARDS, BUT NOW THE LIQUID BOY @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# CREATURE GRABS HOLD OF ME. I TRY TO #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ SHAKE HIM OFF, BUT HE'S TOO STRONG, AND @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# PULLS ME BACK UP BESIDE HIM. #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# THIS TIME, I TURN ANGRY INSTEAD. WHAT #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ THE HELL? WHO IS THIS GUY, ACTING LIKE @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# THIS? I REACH OUT MY FREE ARM AND SLAM #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ A RANDOM LEVER. SOME METAL BAR IS @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# SUDDENLY RELEASED BETWEEN US, HITTING #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ HIM ON THE ARM, FORCING MY RELEASE. I @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# SHOVE HIM OFF OF ME, AND HE FALLS INTO #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ THE LEVERS, MESSING THEM UP. @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# IMMEDIATELY, A THIN RUSTY CHAINMAIL #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ CURTAIN IS DROPPED AROUND ME. BUT THE @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# ELEVATOR ALSO SPEEDS UP SIGNIFICANTLY. #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# THE WALLS ARE FLARING NOW, YELLOW, #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ WHITE, ALMOST BLUE. I CLOSE MY EYES AND @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# CURL INTO A BALL. BUT THEN, THE GLASS #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ BOY SCREAMS, A PIERCING SOUND THAT @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# FORCES MY EYES BACK OPEN. I WATCH AS HE #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ BECOMES TOO LIQUID, HIS BODY POOLING @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# DOWN IN HIS NOW MASSIVE TAIL, AND THE #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ TIP OF IT SUDDENLY BREAKS OF IN A GLASS @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# DROP THAT FALLS TOWARD THE FACTORY #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ FLOOR. @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ HE'S CRAWLING ON THE STAIRS, UNABLE TO @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# KEEP HIS BODY UPRIGHT. CAN'T REACH THE #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ LEVERS, CLAWS AT MY CHAINMAIL CAGE, @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# WHILE HIS BODY IS TURNING INTO DARK #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ PEARLS. FINALLY, HE'S LOST TOO MUCH OF @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# HIMSELF AND THE SCREAM IS CUT SHORT. #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ THE LAST OF HIM RAINS DOWN. @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ I STILL CAN'T REACH THE LEVERS FROM @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# WITHIN MY CAGE. LOOKING UP, I TRY TO #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ MAKE OUT THE CEILING, BUT IT'S ALL A @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# WHIRLING SEA OF COLOURS. BELOW ME GLOWS #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ THE HELLFIRE OF THE FACTORY WALLS, BUT @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# VERY FAINT. I SIT DOWN, CURL BACK UP, #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ BECOME STILL. @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ §§ @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# §§ §§ #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ ======= § § ======= @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# §§ §§ #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ §§ @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ A LARGE CLUNK SHAKES MY ENTIRE BODY, @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# AND SNAPS ME BACK INTO REALITY. I'M #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ BACK AT THE FACTORY FLOOR, BUT THE @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# STAIRS ARE STILL MOVING SLIGHTLY, #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ CLICKING IN PLACE, CARRYING ME THE LAST @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# FEW CENTIMETERS. I CAME FROM BELOW, #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ SOMEHOW. THE CHAINMAIL IS RETRACTED, @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# AND I SLOWLY DISMOUNT THE STAIRS. #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# SHAKING AND CRYING, I MAKE MY WAY OVER #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ THE FACTORY FLOOR, WADING THROUGH DARK @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# GLASS MARBLES. A QUICK GLANCE DOWN, AND #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ I SEE THERE'S SOMETHING FAINT INSIDE @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# THEM. EMBRYOS? ARE THESE EGGS? #@##&§;=:¨
¨¨:=;§&##@ @##&§;=:¨¨
¨:=;§&##@# I SHUDDER, AND CLIMB BACK OUT. #@##&§;=:¨
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